Vehicle-wheel.



UNITED STAgh g rarest enric YEHIGLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 9,1906. Serial mi. 310,620.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS ROWLAND, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Coraopolis, in thecounty of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehrcle-ll'heels, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wheels,and the invention has for its primary object to provide a novel form ofresilient wheel and dispenses with the ordinary wood and metallic spokesheretofore used in connection with a.

wheel,

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheel particularlyadapted for motor driven vehicles and such vehicles as are generallyused for pleasure purposes, although my improve l wheel can be readilyconstructed for light weight wagons and drays. I have constructed myimproved wheel to add further resiliency to the body of the vehicle thanthat now derived from springs mounted between the axles of a vehicle andthe body portion thereol, at the same time maintaining suliicicntrigidity to prevent the v'lieels from breaking or collapsin", and inthis man- With the above and other objects in view, which will morereadily appear as the nature oi the invention is better understood, the.same consists in the novel cmistruction, combination and ill'l'LLllgPlllIlli, oi parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, andreferring to the drawing accompanying this application, like num rals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, inWhich1- Figure l. is side elevation ol my improved wheel, the same beingillustrated diagrammatically,

Figure 2 is a. limit elevation of a portion ol a wheel ci'mstructed inaccordance with my invention, a portion of the wheel being illustratedin section.

Figure3 is avertica-l. cross sectional. view ol a portion of the wh eelconstructed in accordance with my i nvention'.

To put my invention into practice, 1 construct my im'provec wheclof ahub l and a rim or lolly 2, these parts being. prel'eral)ly made ofstrong and durable metal. The lu'Jb l comprises a body portion 3, sideplates l, 4, and a. r taining band or ring 5. The rim or ielly 2 issubstantially channel-shaped in cross section and is adapted to supporta metallic or rubber tire 6. Between the hub l and the rim 2 is arrangeda plurality of radially disposed elliptical springs 7, the major axes Iof the springs being radial relative to the hub l, corresponding to theordinary spokes commonly used \iu wheels. The springs 7 are identical inconstruction and are secured to the hub, to one another and to the rimto form a flexible and resilient structure capable of normallymaintaining the hub 1 centrally of the rim 2, at the same timepermitting the same to recede in any direction relative to said rim.

Each spring is constructed oi strip 01' metal 8 which is bent to form anellipse, the strip of metal being wrapped upon itsell a number of times,each wrapping being separated by resilient Washers 9 and 10, the washers9 being located at the outer ends of the elliptical springs while thewashers 10 are located at the inner ends of the elliptical springs. Thewashers 10 correspond to strips of metal and are made vi a lengthapproximately one-half the contour ol the spring.

The springs 7 arranged between the hub 1 and the rim 2 of the wheel aresecured together by a. plurality of rivets 11 or similar fasteningmeans, said rivets passing through the upper ends oi the washers 10, thewrappings of each spring, and a washer l2 interposed between saidsprings. The springs are secured to the hub l by a plurality of screwbolts 14 and to the rim 2 by a plurality of rivets 15 or similarfastening means. The rivets 15 pass through resilient washcrsdtiinterposed between theouter ends of the springs and the rim 2.

By constructing an elliptical spring of a strip or resilient metal whichis wrapped upon itself a number of times, and-each wrapping separated bya washer, Lam I enabled to obtain the greatest resiliency possible in aspring of this type, the resiliency of one.\\ra1'vping being practicallyindependent'of its associate wrapping. I do not care td confine myselfto the number of time; a strip of metal is wrapped to form an ellipticalspring, nor to the manner in which the springs composing the wheel aresecured together or to the hub or rim of said wheel. I I

A suitable resilient material can be interposed between the wrappings ofmy improved springs, that is, between the ends of the washers 9 and 10,to [ill the small space existing between the wrappings, and prevent dirtfrom interfering with the resiliency each wrapping.

It is obvious that my in'iproved springs can be rbadily used in.connectionwith wooden hubs and wooden rims having metallic tires,therefore I donut care to conline mysell to the specific adaptation ofmy im- 'prov'cd springs, to wheels.

Such chan es as are iermissible b the a icndcd claims, may be resortedto without departing luau the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:- i

1. In a wheel, the combination with a hub, and a tire, of a plurality ofelliptical springs supported between said hubs and said tire, and havingtheir major axes radiating from said hub, each spring Consisting of astrip of metal wrapped a number of times upon itself, washers interposedbetween said wrappings, substantially as described:

2. In a wheel, the combination with a hub, and a rim, of a pluralitysfellipticalspring supported between said hub and-said rim, each springconsisting of a strip of metaLwrapped npon itself a number of times,washers mounted between each wrapping, some of said washers be ing of agreater length than the others of said washers, substantially asdescribed. 1

3. In a'wlieel, a substantially elliptical spring interposed between thefelly and hub of the wheel with its ends connect ed respectively to saidfelly and hub, said spring formed from asingle strip of metal wrappeduporfitself a plurality of times, and .washers interposed between thewrappings of said spring at the ends thereof.

4. In a wheel, a substantially elliptical spring interposed between thefelly and hub of the wheel with its ends connectedrespectively to saidfelly and hub, said spring formed from a single strip of metal wrappedupon itself a plurality of times, and elastic washers interposed betweenthe wrappings of said spring at the ends thereof.

5. A wheel spring of substantially elli tical form, formed from a singlestrip of metal wrapped Eben itself a plurality of times, with flexiblewashers interposed between the wrappings thereof. I

In testimony whereof I aflig my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

I THOMAS ROWLAND.

Witnesses:

C. KLOSTERMANN,

E. E. Pocrrnn.

